Summary: This gene encodes a member of the neurotrophic tyrosine
kinase receptor (NTKR) family. This kinase is a membrane-bound
receptor that, upon neurotrophin binding, phosphorylates itself and
members of the MAPK pathway. The presence of this kinase leads to
cell differentiation and may play a role in specifying sensory
neuron subtypes. Mutations in this gene have been associated with
congenital insensitivity to pain, anhidrosis, self-mutilating
behavior, mental retardation and cancer. Alternate transcriptional
splice variants of this gene have been found, but only three have
been characterized to date. [provided by RefSeq, Jul 2008].